Evaluation of fungal contamination rate of simental male cows (Fleckvieh) genital system and its correlation with viability and sperm motility and testosterone concentration of blood serum and semen plasma

The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between the fungal contamination rate of various parts of simental male cows genital system with viability and sperm motility and also testosterone concentration in blood serum and semen plasma. Sampling was performed from external skin of penis, internal skin of penis, penis before ejaculation, fluid pre ejaculation, ejaculation fluid (semen), penis after ejaculation, and ejaculation fluid after defreezing from male cows. For mycological examination, all samples were cultured onto sabouruad dextrose agar medium containing chloramphenicol (0.005%) and kept at 30oC for 7-10 days. Sperms motility using CASA software and the percentage of abnormal and viable sperms using Eosin nigrosin were performed. Also, testosterone levels of blood serum and semen plasma samples were assessed by quantitative chemiluminescence method. The most frequently isolated fungi were Candida spp. (35.6%), Penicillium spp. (18.6%) and Aspergillus (14.2%). The highest and lowest mean rates of fungi were associated with internal skin of penis (21.08 ± 16.43) and ejaculation fluid after defreezing (2.00 ± 2.45), respectively. Although there was no correlation between the total amount of the fungal contamination and sperm motility parameters before and after freezing, a positive significant relationship was observed between viable sperms percent after freezing and testosterone concentration of semen plasma (P<0.05). The findings showed that there is a significant correlation between fungal community rate and viable sperms and testosterone level of semen fluid.